College Football Hall of Fame opening Aug. 23

ATLANTA -- The new College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta will open on Aug. 23.

The date was announced Thursday.

The opening of the 94,000-square-foot facility was timed to coincide with two games at the Georgia Dome to begin the college football season: Mississippi vs. Boise State on Aug. 28, followed two days later by Alabama vs. West Virginia.

The hall was previously located in South Bend, Indiana, but was plagued by poor attendance. Five years ago, the National Football Foundation announced a deal to move it to Atlanta, on a site near the Georgia Dome and overlooking Centennial Olympic Park.

Also Thursday, the foundation announced a lead sponsor for the facility, which will be known officially as the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience.